Holder for rolls of tape



Sept. 19, 1961 L. P. MONROE 3,000,494-

' HOLDER FOR ROLLS OF TAPE Filed Feb. 20, 1959 INVENTOR. LEE P MONROE4%, MZWM A-r-rorexos vs A ing Corporation of America, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,694 Claims. (Cl. 20652) Thisinvention relates to a holder for rolls of tape. More particularly, thisinvention relates to a package and holder for rolls of tape erected froma rectilinear blank and having a pair of side walls and end walls toenclose the roll of tape and a center structure adapted to form aspindle for the roll and allow the package to be gripped for pulling thetape from the roll. Still more particular- 1y, this invention relates tonovel structure forming the spindle or hub means at the center of thepackage.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a package for rollsof tape which may be simply and quickly erected from a generallyrectilinear blank. An absolute minimum of material is utilized in theforming of this package. The blanking operation is such that theresulting blank is extremely simple in construction, thus facilitatingthe erection of a simplified package.

A package for a roll of tape necessitates a particular type of carton. Aspindle must be formed generally near the center of the package on whichthe roll of tape is mounted. This spindle must be of a type such that itmay be formed after the roll of tape is inserted into the carton becauseit must serve not only to give the carton further support but also lockthe tape in the carton. An important object of this invention is toprovide structure such the carton itself and once the spindle isassembled, the parts thereof are locked firmly in place. This improvedspindle structure is thus devised to give greaterrigidity to the packageas well as provide a simplified way in which to form the spindle.

Other objects of this invention will become obvious to those skilled inthe box and packaging arts upon reading the following specification inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the blank from which the improved package for tapecomprising this invention is formed.

FIG. 2 is a side, perspective view of the package formed from the blankshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of this package taken along the planeIII--III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the lockingstructure comprising a vital part of this invention.

Briefly, this invention relates to a holder for tape having a pair ofside walls and a pair of end walls. A pair of bracing fiaps are struckfrom each of these side walls, corresponding bracing flaps of each ofthe pairs of bracing flaps extending toward each other the interior ofthe holder and adapted to overlap each other. The bracing flaps exposedto the center of the holder have first locking ears projecting fromtheir outer ends. Second locking ears are struck from each of the sidepanels along the line joining the bracing flap not exposed to the centerof the holder thereto. The first locking ears are thus adapted to besuperimposed upon the second locking ears and positioned within theinterior of the holder, whereby the bracing flaps are locked rigidly inposition.

Turning more specifically to the'drawin gs, the reference numeral 1 inFIG. 1 designates the blank used in the formation of this holder. Thisblank includes a first end panel 2, a first side panel 4, a second endpanel 6, a second side panel 8 and a glue flap 10 successively joined intandem along the fold lines 3, 5, 7 and 9.

rat s fia 5 A pair of slits 11 and 12 are located in the first sidepanel 4 in a generally parallel position. These slits define the sidesof a pair of bracing flaps 13 and 14, joined 'to the first side panel 4along the fold lines 15 and 16 respectively. The somewhat V-shapedlocking ear 17 extends from the end of bracing flap 13, joined theretoalong the fold line 18 along its edge of least dimension. Anotherlocking ear 19, having generally the same configuration as locking ear17, is struck from the first side panel 4. The locking ear 17 is joinedto the fiap 14 along the fold line 16. This forms an opening 20 in theside panel. It will be noted that a, somewhat U-shaped portion A isremoved from side wall 4 during the formation of these bracing flaps.The length of the respective bracing flaps is generally equal to thewidth of the end panels 2 and 6.

Slits 11a and 12a are cut in side panel 8, in positions corresponding tothe slits 11 and 12 in first side panel 4. Similar bracing flaps 13a and14a are struck from the second side wall 8, the slits 11a and 12adefining the sides of these bracing flaps. However, it will be notedthat the corresponding positioning of these flaps in the second sidepanel 8 are reversed to the positioning of the flaps in the :first sidepanel 4. The fold lines 15a and 16a respectively joining the bracingflaps 13a and 14a to the second side panel 8 are also reversed inposition. The reason for this reversal will be explained more fullyhereinafter. A

somewhat V-shaped locking ear 17a extends from bracing flap 13a, joinedthereto along the fold line 18a along its edge of least dimension.Another locking ear 19a is struck from the second side panel 8 andjoined thereto along the fold line 16a, forming the opening 20a in thisside panel. These two locking ears in the second side panel 8 aregenerally of the same configuration. Again, it will be noted that in theformation of these bracing flaps, a generally inverted U-shaped portionB has been removed from the second side panel 8.

The fold lines 3, 5, 7 and 9 have spaced die cuts along their length tofacilitate folding along these lines. A thin metal tearing strip C ispositioned to extend across the bottom of the second end panel 6 tofacilitate tearing lengths of tape from a roll enclosed in the carton.

This carton is erected by folding the two side panels and the two endpanels to form a wall structure, and gluing the glue flap 10 to theunderside of the first end panel 2. When thus erected, a roll of tapehaving a large center or core opening may be placed within this wallstructure. After the tape is centered in the carton, the bracing flaps14 and 14a are folded inwardly through the center opening of the taperoll. The bracing flaps 13 and 13a are next folded through the centeropening of the tape roll to lie against the bracing flaps 14 and 14a andbeing exposed to the center of the holder (FIGS. 2 and 3). The lockingears 17 and 17a are adapted to be superimposed upon the locking ears 19aand 19 respectively (FIGS. 3 and 9). All four of these locking ears maythen be depressed into the interior of the holder through openings 20and 20a. Since bracing flaps 13a and 14 form a double thickness, thelocking ear 17a is shifted toward the narrow end of the opening 20 andthus off center with respect to the locking ear 19 and opening 20. Thiscauses locking ear 17a to bind under and against the walls of theopening 20, holding it firmly in position within opening 20. The same istrue of the locking car 17 (FIG. 3). Thus, a spindle has been formed forthe roll of tape seated within the carton. This spindle can be formedvery quickly and simply, and will remain firmly locked in position.Further, the double thickness formed by the corresponding bracing fiapsproduces a very rigid holder highly resistant to crushing. It will nowbe obvious that the user simply inserts his fingers within this spindle,draws tape from the bottom of the holder and tears the desired amountfrom the roll using the tear strip C as a means of separating thedesired length of tape from the roll (FIG. 2).

Assembly gnd operation A blank 1 is formed as shown and describedhereinbefore. It will be noted that this blank is rectangular in shapewith no protruding or irregular portions. Consed'uently, its manufactureinvolves a ininirhum'of waste. Also it is easily shipped and stored. Awall structure is erected by respectively folding the side and endpanels and gluing the flap to the inner side of the first end panel 2L'After so forming this wall structure, it is then adapted to receive aroll of tape. i

'After the tape has been inserted into the wall structure, bracing flaps14 and 14a are folded into the interior of the holder, the first step informing a spindle for the roll of tape. These bracing flaps arepreferably of a length such that they terminate at the other side wallafter passing through the interior of the holder. The bracing flaps 13and 13a are next folded inwardly through the interior of the holder,these flaps being exposed to the center of the holder and engaging thebracing flaps 14 and 14a. The locking cars 17 and 17a are thensuperimposed upon the locking ears 19 and 19a, the latter being struckfrom the side panels 4 and 8. The locking ears 19 and 17a are bothforced into the interior of the holder through opening 20, the lockingears 19a and 17 also being forced therein through opening 20a. As hasbeennoted previously, the double thickness of bracing flaps causes thelocking cars 17 and 17a to be pushed towards the narrow end of theopening 20, thereby being held rigidly in position Within the holder asbest shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. By these simple steps, a spindle has been"formed for'the roll of tape allowing the user to grasp the holder anddraw tape therefrom. It also locks the roll into the carton.

A tape holder has been disclosed which is extremely simple inconstruction. Because of this simplicity, the spindle holding the rollof tape is'qui'ckl'y and simply formed either man'ually'or byautoniatic'machine'ry. The novel structure of the lockingearpo'sitivcly' locks the bracing flaps in position to form the spindle.These bracing flaps form double thicknesses which provide a more rigidtape holder.

"This structure is not complex and therefore the holder is relativelyinexpensive to fabricate. It should'be noted that the reverse positionof the corresponding bracing. flaps in the two side panelsis'especially' adaptedto be used with the particular proportions of mostrolls of tapes. However, for rolls of tape'of certain widths'and certainsized center openings, it might be feasible to have lockin'g earsextending from the ends of both bracing flaps in one side panel andlocking ears positioned at the fold lines of both bracing flaps in theother panel. If this were the case, all of the lockingears would ofcourse be on one side of the holder when the spindle is formed. However,the double thickness of bracing flaps would still be formed and therespective locking ears would be pulled into position locking the flapsrigidly in position.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown, it must beunderstood that certain other embodiments might be utilized withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention. Such otherembodiments are to be included as apart of this invention unless thefollowing claims expressly state otherwise. i

I claim:

1. A blank for a tape holder, comprising: a first end panel, a firstside'panel, a second end panel, 'a second side panel and an endflap,'said pa'u'els'andflapsuccessively joined in tandem alongj foldlinesja first bracing flap cut from said first sidepanel', joinedthereto along a first fold line; a first locking ear extending from theside of said first bracing panel opposite said' first foldline; a secondbracing flap cut from said first sidepanel, joined thereto along asecond fold line, said first and second fold lines being generallyparallel and said first and second bracing flaps extending towards eachother; a second locking ear 4 m cut from said first side panel, saidsecond locking ear joined to said first side panel along said secondfold line and extending in the opposite direction from said second foldline as said second bracing flap; third and fourth bracing flapsextending towards each other, out from said second side panel and joinedthereto along third and fourth fold lines respectively, said' third foldline positioned in said second side panel corresponding to the positionof said second fold'line in said first side panel and said fourth foldlinepositioned in said second side panel corresponding to the positionof said first fold line in said first side panel; a'third'locking earextending from the side of said third bracing flap opposite from saidthird fold line; and a fourth locking ear cut from said second sidepanel joined thereto along said fourth fold line and extending in theopposite direction from said fourth fold line as said fourth bracingflap.

2. A blank for a tape holder, comprising: a first end panel, a firstside panel, a second end panel, a second side panel and an end flap,said panels and flap successively joined-in tandem along fold lines; afirst bracing flap cut from said first side panel, said first bracingflap being generally rectilinear in shape and of a length generallyequal to the width of said end panels and joined to said first bracingflap along a first fold line; a first locking ear extending from theside of said first bracing panel opposite said first fold line; a secondbracing'flap cut from said first side panel, said second bracing flapbeing generally the same size as said first bracing flap, joined to saidfirst side panel along a second fold line, said and second foldlinesbeing generally parallel and said first and second bracing flapsextending towardscabh other; a second locking ear cut from said firstside panel, said second locking 'ear' having the satne configuratio iias said first locking car and joined to said first side panel along saidsecond fold line and extending in'the opposite direction fromsaid'second fold line as said second arseing flap; third and fourthbracingflaps extending towards each" other, cut from said second sidepanel and joined thereto along third andfourth fold lines respectively,said third and fourth bracing fiaps havin g the sarne configuration assaid first and second bracing flaps; said third fold line positioned insaid second side panel correspondingto the position of said second foldline in said first side panel and said fourth fold line positioned insaid second side panel corresponding' to the position of sa id firstfold line in said first side panel; a third locking ear extending fromthe side of said third bracing flap opposite from said third fold line;and a foui'th locking ear out from said second side panel joined 'thereto along said fourth fold line and extending in the opposite directionfrom said fourth fold line as said fourth bracing flap, said third andfourth locking ears having generally thesame configuration. w

3. A holder forrolls oftape, comprising: a pair of side walls and a pairof end' walls; a pair of bracing flaps struck from each of said sidewalls; corresponding bracing flaps of each of said pairs of bracingflaps extending towards each other through the holder and lying one uponthe other; the bracingflaps of said pairs of bracing flaps exposed tothe center of the holder having first locking ears projecting frorntheouter end thereof; second locking ears struck from each of said sidepanels along the line joining the bracing flap not exposed to the centerof the holder thereto, said first locking ears superimposed upon saidsecond locking ears and positioned within the interior of said holder,whereby said bracing flaps are locked in position. v 4. A holder forrolls of tape, comprising: a pair of side walls and a 'pair ofend walls;a pair of bracing flaps struck from each of said side walls;corresponding bracing flaps of each of said pairs of bracing flapsextending towards each other through the holder and lying oneupon theother; each bracing flap of one of said pairs of bracing flaps having afirst locking ear extending from the outer end thereof; second lockingears struck from one of said side walls, joined thereto along the linesjoining the other of said pairs of bracing flaps to said one side wall;and said first and second locking ears being of generally equalconfiguration, said first locking ears superimposed upon said secondlocking ears and positioned within the interior of the holder, therebylocking said bracing flaps in position.

5. A holder for rolls of tape, comprising: a pair of side walls and apair of end walls; a pair of bracing flaps struck from each of said sidewalls, said bracing flaps being of the same configuration and generallyrectilinear in shape; corresponding bracing flaps of each of said pairsof bracing flaps extending towards each other through the holder andlying one upon the other, said bracing flaps being of a length generallyequal to the width of said end 5 2,921,674

walls; the bracing flaps of said pairs of bracing flaps exposed to thecenter of the holder having first locking ears projecting from the outerend thereof; second locking ears struck from each of said side panelsalong the line joining the bracing flap not exposed to the center of theholder, said first and second locking ears being generally of the sameconfiguration; and said first locking ears superimposed upon said secondlocking ears and positioned within the interior of said holder, wherebysaid 10 bracing flaps are locked in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSSchweich Nov. 22, 1955 Ryder Jan. 19, 1960

